Houghton boys win U.P. Division 1 golf championship at Heritage

McGee leads MSHS to third-place finish

May 29, 2014

MARQUETTE - Six solid months of poor weather has handed the Houghton boys golf team lemons, so they traveled south to make fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Led by sophomore medalist Wyatt Liston, the Gremlins shot 310 to beat out runner-up Escanaba by eight strokes and third-place Marquette by 11 for the team title at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 finals on Wednesday at the Marquette Golf Club.

With an overabundance of snow from the winter that didn't want to melt this spring, Houghton's golfers had to come up with creative ways to practice as their home course, the Portage Lake Golf Course just south of town, only opened about two weeks ago.

The five boys at Wednesday's meet also said they've made a much shorter trip to the L'Anse Golf Club, playing "around five or six rounds" there, according to freshman Ben Strong, who recorded 78.

A Marquette golfer also took advantage of the big stage at his home course to record the round of his life. Junior Mike McGee, listed third on coach Ben Smith's depth chart, shot the day's second-best score of 75.

"I had a 77 a couple weeks ago. That had been my best score ever in practice or at a meet," he said.

"Everything just came together. My drives were straight, my chipping was good and I hit some long putts."

He said he had one birdie, at the par-5 fourth hole. A long drive and a good second shot put him on fringe just off the green. He chipped close for a manageable putt and birdie 4.

His round was reminiscent of one turned in by junior teammate Scott Frazier last year at Portage Lake. Not having broken 80 all spring, Frazier - also his team's No. 3 golfer at the time - shot 71 to win medalist honors in the 2013 D1 finals.

It also left the Gremlins in second place to the Redmen on their home course. But Houghton has won the last two titles played in Marquette County, which includes the 2012 D1 crown at Wawonowin Country Club west of Ishpeming.

The four top-scoring Gremlins sank seven birdies between them, three by Liston.

"Our kids love to play golf, and they play it a lot," HHS coach Jack Kumpula said. "They're golfers - they play all summer. They're a pretty tight group. They always root for each other.

"My role is to impress upon them that every stroke counts, though they have a great mental approach to the game. It helps them minimize the effect of bad shots."

The runner-up Eskymos, who shot 318, had three sub-80 rounds turned in by Nick Aird with 76, Dane Casperson 78 and Dylan Gauthier 79.

Marquette, shooting 321, also got 79 from Brett Specker, 82 from Nick Weber, 85 from Frazier and a non-counting 86 from Drew Leadbetter.

Negaunee was the next area team in sixth with 348, led by Carter Mason with 81, David Renaldi 83 and Erik Voskuhl 90.

"Carter has been playing really well," Miners coach Dustin Hongisto said. "I'm sad to see David Renaldi go, since he's our only senior, but we have a bright future with three freshmen and some good seventh- and eighth-graders coming up."

Manistique was ninth with 376 as all five golfers finished within seven strokes of each other. Zach Powers led the way with 91, while Alex Anderson, DK Boyd and Louis Berry all had 95s.